As I was preparing my homily for this weekend, I was very much aware that it was a Holiday Weekend as our nation honors and remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I was considering using some parts of Dr. King’s famous speech of 1963 (The “I have a Dream Speech”) so I printed up a copy and read it; (as a matter of fact there is video of the speech).
Might I suggest that we turn to our computers sometime today or tomorrow and search for the “I Have a Dream Speech” by Martin Luther King, Jr. Think of it as a time of prayer and reflection for today or tomorrow.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Have your ever thought that God has a plan, not a dream but a plan, for you and me and us? We hear in the First Reading today from Isaiah, “The Lord said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory.”
God had a plan for the people of Israel, his Chosen People. God has a plan for you and me and us… His Church.
Isaiah says it so well, “The Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb… My God is my strength!”
What has God formed us to be now and in days to come??
One answer is as St. Paul reminds us: God has formed us to be HOLY. There’s a loaded word – Holy. I think for many people that words like “holy” and “saintly” seem to be outside our experience.
Without great detail, the lives we live at home, at work, at school, at church… the everyday details and routines of life are meant to bring us a step closer to being whole and holy people as we live our Baptismal call to love God, love others, and grow as Disciples of Jesus every day.
In the days and weeks ahead, look and listen for where God is speaking to you in the events and happenings and people of everyday life.
In the days and weeks ahead look for the opportunities that call us a person, family and Parish to love God, to love others, to grow as Disciples of Jesus.
Those opportunities that allow in our day “the salvation of the Lord, to reach the ends of the Earth”, including St. Mary’s, Crescent.
And like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who had a dream, he also had faith that the “Glory of God would be revealed, and all flesh will see it together.”
A faith that allows us all to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to stand up for freedom, peace and justice together.